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Too many places that I have posts!! After months of vigorous testing, I've finally nailed it down to one that works best for me.... http://www.myspace.com/go_barefoot . Stop by and visit any time :)

Through Eyes of a Child

I have a smile deep within this morning. The organization I work for (Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children) has what we call 'Birthday Banks'. They collect donations from people who wish to donate on their Birthday, some giving a dollar per year. This morning I opened a gift from a 7 year old little girl. I couldn't help but smile and hold back the tears. How often and how easy it is to anticipate a birthday in excitement of what special gifts we may receive. But this seven year old girl saw her birthday not as a chance to get a new toy, but as an opportunity to give a special gift to children in need. Her big heart spoke volumes to me. I have been reminded this morning of how the world looks through the eyes of a child...

To know more about Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children check out www.obhc.org

Quote of the Day

A rich man is one who has enough for himself and enough left over to help others. Though he be possessed of millions, a man is poor, who has only enough for himself. -Unknown

Release the Reins

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Oh how often I miss the big picture. It is as if at times I have on shades that obstruct my vision. My sight is blurred causing me to see what is right in front of me while distracting me from seeing life all around me. Life is a puzzle. The small pieces I experience are only a fraction of actual life, the big picture. Life isn't just about what is happening right in front of you...it is the things unseen too. Too easily I get caught up in what I'm experiencing, the things that I'm responsible for, the relationships I desire to maintain, wondering how on earth I'm going to handle one more curve ball. When these things are my immediate focus and my constant meditation it is no wonder that the whirlwind of stress sucks me in and forcefully throws me around. I was never intended to manage my own life. I have failed miserably in this management position. When the reins are in my own hands, I feel like a child who sneaks into the kitchen and while his parents aren't looking snatches a cookie out of the jar. The child knows better, or else he wouldn't sneak into the kitchen. Just like the child, I know better than to take the reins of my life into my own hands. The thing is God never turns his back; you can't just pull one over on him. You can't just take over for a little while and expect all things to fit together to form the big picture. The puzzle changes and suddenly the pieces don't fit together. You force them in but they don't stay. How long do you keep trying every piece only to find none of them work? I've tried plenty long. Frustration creeps in, anger is easily aroused, and bitterness is quickly harvested. I continue to go back and try every piece again wanting to show God I can do it. He sits, watches, tries to get my attention, watches me some more and waits until I have suffered a little while. He then demands to be heard. He woos me to his throne of grace. It is now that I can no longer stand on my own, but I am forced to fall prostrate before the author and perfecter of my faith and release the reins gripped in my palm. I must once again surrender my life to him. Allow him to come in and be glorified in my life. He promises rest for the weary. He restores us by his strength and comforts us with his unconditional love. He picks me up, removes the shades from my eyes, and takes the reins into his hands. He allows me to see that all the things I have endured are only a part of the many things to come. Refinement and restoration are at constant work-they are the things unseen. My joy is now complete. The whirlwind of worry and stress no longer tosses me about. He has outfitted me in armor and prepared me to continue experiencing life with him by my side.

Sing a Song

I lie here waiting in the presence of my Lord, each morning as I seek Your face, I'm amazed at Your grace. You love me more than I could know, and through Your ways You show me how to go about Your will, while keeping me still.

Let me not, take from You my life. My ways are none, compared to Yours. I lay it down and slowly walk away, fill me with Your Spirit O Lord I pray.

You stand here waiting for me to look Your way. Patiently praying for God to light my day. It's not worth taking things upon myself, You are the One who died to give us help. Eternally we shall look upon Your face, knowing we are here only by Your grace.

Let me not, take from You my life. My ways are none, compared to Yours. I lay it down and slowly walk away, fill me with Your Spirit O Lord I pray.

I've surrendered and given You my life. In each moment, You will place Your hand in mine. Take me Lord, to dwell before Your throne. Giving You the praise that only You deserve.

Let me not, take from You my life. My ways are none, compared to Yours. I lay it down and slowly walk away, fill me with Your Spirit O Lord I pray.

Take my life, fill it with Your word, let my mouth sing praises to be heard. I'll glorify my Lord, my God, my King. Give to You my life, my all, my offering.

Blueprint? No Thanks!

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Romans 8:24-27

I’ve decided that I’m not so sure I want to see the entire blueprint of God’s will for my life. So many times I ask God questions quizzing Him on my future while trying to figure out His huge plan. I know that I want His will for my life at all times and that I must seek Him. But I’ve realized how easy it is to ask and seek out of selfishness. As long as these are my motivations I’m guaranteed to miss the big picture. I think I’m at the point where I am truly satisfied with where I am right now. But the struggle is to be completely satisfied with where my future stands. I’m a planner…I’m detailed oriented….I like to have everything all laid out and carefully pieced together. Obviously…this is where I struggle. There are so many questions I have concerning what tomorrow will bring about. It’s like I want a forecast of my future. The verses above are probably some of my favorite and the spark of my current thoughts. ‘Hope that is seen is no hope at all.’ I understand that the second God would go ahead and give me a brief overview of what’s to come…I’m bound to take things upon myself and run with what He told me. For this reason, I know God is only giving me pieces at a time. He’s teaching me patience and absolute reliance on Him…not on what I can achieve and plan. I’m thrilled to think of the many paths I will one day travel. However, I’m even more thrilled to experience growth as I have complete faith in the Lord and entrust my all to Him.

All About Love

I think too many of us have been fooled into believing that Christianity is 'convincing' people what Christ is all about. It stems from our tainted vision of what being a witness and ministering to those who need Christ is really all about. Of course we are called to the Great Commission, but I think our perspective is a bit out of whack. It's as if something we do is going to be so great that we'll "win them over to Christ". Since when do we have that capability? Of course, we don't. But why is it that we try so hard to follow the rules when it comes down to us failing miserably and getting drowned in the mix. Anyone can work real hard to follow the rules and be a good example or whatever, but work without passion is dead. If we skip to trying to live a Christian life in order to win some over, then we have totally missed our calling. We're human, sinners; we fail at anything we try to accomplish on our own. We miss the huge point of love. Love is a choice. We are given the option to love, to accept love. We were made with a God-shaped hole that can only be filled by the power of the cross, not angels convincing or people living the Christian life. Like I said, work without passion is dead. Not to condemn becoming Christ like. I'm saying that if we're so wrapped up in 'following the rules' and trying to better ourselves then we have deceived ourselves, our eyes have become clouded and we fail to see things so simply, we fail to step out and reach that person with love, a genuine desire to see a work done in their life. Obviously the world scoffs at those who call themselves Christian. We've done a pretty good job of rearranging the big picture so much that emphasis is put to how you live rather than who you are living it with. We're a society driven by instant/visible results. We think we must see it to believe it. We think that by acting Christ like, you are Christ like. We think that changing someone's actions will change their heart. Will not the life change as a result in a change of heart? Living as a child of God doesn't come from achievement. It comes from a relationship, a fear...reverence for the one who died out of love for us. Fear should follow love. It's not a fear that forces you into love. This love captures us, the love of Christ that so embraces us. Out of the love relationship we have with Christ will come that fear, the reverence. It is with this fear that we should honor the Lord. Not a fear that we are instilling in those around us to 'look to the cross...or else', it shouldn't be a threat. Out of love and fear we shall then pursue Christ-likeness not as a goal, or to convince someone but to honor the Lord. The Holy Spirit will do a work that we can never fathom. With all that said, we must be careful of our actions for we are to be used as instruments to share His love and speak His word. Basically what I'm saying is lets not make it our goal to 'look good' to the world to prove something to them, but simply live as our life's sole desire is to know Him better. From this our actions will fall in line and our witness will be stronger than ever. We're human...be real to them...be real and allow His love to burn so bright that it's an attraction to those in need. Let's not beat them over the head or tell them the list of things they need to change. Change comes as a result of love.
“We are created by love, to live in love, for the sake of love.” ~Gerald May